Foldable footwear

ABSTRACT

A foldable footwear is disclosed, including a first insole, a second insole, and a third insole. At least one strap, toe box, or upper vamp affixed to the second insole. A sole defines a first channel and a second channel to define a first sole hingedly attached to a second sole. A third sole is hingedly attached to the second sole, wherein the first insole is disposed one the first sole, the second insole is disposed on the second sole, and the third insole is disposed on the third sol. The foldable footwear is constructed and arranged to fold along the first channel and the second channel. Alternatively, the foldable footwear may fold in half via a mid-channel positioned between the first sole and the second sole.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No.63/285,613 filed Dec. 3, 2022, titled “FOLDABLE FOOTWEAR,” which ishereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The embodiments generally relate to slippers or shoes and moreparticularly to footwear having increased portability.

BACKGROUND

Slippers, sandals, house shoes, and the like may provide a comfortablefooting indoors or with occasional outdoor use. Various types of theaforementioned footwear are readily available to consumers. Often, thesefootwear types are simply stored in various ways, or carried with theuser throughout their daily activities until they are needed. However,there is a need for an easily storable slipper or house shoe that islight weight, compactable, foldable, and easily carried in a pocket,purse, or other bag.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This summary is provided to introduce a variety of concepts in asimplified form that is disclosed further in the detailed description ofthe embodiments. This summary is not intended to identify key oressential inventive concepts of the claimed subject matter, nor is itintended for determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

The embodiments described herein relate to a foldable footwear definingat least a first channel and a second channel in the sole of thefootwear in which may allow the footwear to bend at the first channeland second channel such that the footwear may be foldable to increaseease of storage, travel, and use of the footwear. The embodimentsprovide a convenient means for transporting and/or storing footwearwhich can be readily deployed at the time of use. The footwear mayprovide easily storable and compactible footwear in scenarios such as,but not limited to, hospital settings, emergency settings, travelsettings, camping settings, or the like.

In one aspect, the foldable footwear includes at least one passage to atleast partially receive a user's foot.

In one aspect, the foldable footwear is configurable in in-useconfiguration. The in-use configuration is defined by the first sole andthe second sole forming a planar surface.

In one aspect, the foldable footwear is configurable in a storageconfiguration. The storage configuration is defined by the first soleand the second sole forming a non-planar surface.

In one aspect, the foldable footwear is configured to fold in half or inthirds.

In one aspect, the strap is configured as one of the following: atoecap, to box, upper vamp, or a thong.

In one aspect, the storage configuration is defined as being morecompact than the in-use configuration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A complete understanding of the present embodiments and the advantagesand features thereof will be more readily understood by reference to thefollowing detailed description when considered in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a top elevation view of the foldable footwear in anin-use configuration, according to some embodiments;

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the foldable footwear in anin-use configuration, according to some embodiments;

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the foldable footwear in astorage configuration, according to some embodiments;

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the foldable footwear in anin-use configuration, according to some embodiments;

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of the foldable footwear in astorage configuration, according to some embodiments; and

FIG. 6 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the foldable footwear,according to some embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The specific details of the single embodiment or variety of embodimentsdescribed herein are to the described apparatus. Any specific details ofthe embodiments are used for demonstration purposes only, and nounnecessary limitations or inferences are to be understood therefrom.

Before describing in detail exemplary embodiments, it is noted that theembodiments reside primarily in combinations of components andprocedures related to the apparatus. Accordingly, the apparatuscomponents have been represented where appropriate by conventionalsymbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that arepertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present disclosure soas not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readilyapparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of thedescription herein.

The specific details of the single embodiment or variety of embodimentsdescribed herein are set forth in this application. Any specific detailsof the embodiments are used for demonstration purposes only, and nounnecessary limitation or inferences are to be understood therefrom.Furthermore, as used herein, relational terms, such as “first” and“second,” “top” and “bottom,” and the like, may be used to distinguishone entity or element from another entity or element without necessarilyrequiring or implying any physical or logical relationship, or orderbetween such entities or elements.

In general, the embodiments described herein relate to a foldablefootwear designed for ease of storage and travel by providing acompactable design. The footwear may include a multi piece insole on topof a bottom sole. According to other arrangements, the footwear mayinclude only a bottom sole. The insole and bottom sole may be made ofany appropriate material such as foam, rubber, plastic, or the like toprovide comfortable support to a wearer. According to some embodiments,the material that makes up the insole and bottom sole may be an easilycompressible material to improve compaction of the footwear duringstorage or travel. According to some embodiments, the combination ofinsole and bottom sole, or sole alone, may be approximately 2 to 5millimeters in thickness. According to various other arrangements, thethickness may be approximately 5 to 10 millimeters. Various other solethicknesses are contemplated by this disclosure.

The insole may be a multipiece insole including a first, second, andthird insole. The bottom sole may receive the first, second, and thirdinsole thereon. The bottom sole may define a first channel and a secondchannel constructed and arranged to allow the footwear to bend at thefirst and second channels. The first channel may be defined on thebottom sole approximately between the first insole and the secondinsole. The second channel may be defined on the bottom soleapproximately between these second insole the third insole. In use, thefootwear may be folded along the first channel and the second channelallowing the first, second, and third insoles to separate from oneanother entirely while keeping thew bottom sole intact.

The footwear may include a band, strap, to cap, to box, thong, or thelike for securing the footwear to a wearer's foot.

In this way, the footwear may provide the ability for users to easilystore and travel with separate footwear in case of injury or sorenesscaused by alternate footwear. Alternatively, the footwear may provideeasily storable and compactible footwear in scenarios such as, but notlimited to, hospital settings, emergency settings, travel settings,camping settings, or the like.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 , a foldable footwear 100 may include aninsole 102 made up of a first insole 104, a second insole 106, and athird insole 108. The first, second, and third insoles may be separatedfrom one another. The first, second, and third insoles may be disposedon a respective first sole 110, second sole 112, and third sole 114. Thefirst, second, and third sole may be a single sole. The single sole maydefine a first channel 120 and a second channel 122 therein to partiallyseparate the first, second, and third soles. The first channel 120 andsecond channel 122 may form hingeable or bendable portions within thesingle sole such that the foldable footwear 100 is foldable forcompactness and ease of storage or travel. The foldable footwear 100 mayinclude a strap 118 affixed to any of the first, second, or thirdinsoles, 104, 106, or 108. The strap 118 may define at least one passage116 constructed and arranged for receiving a wearer's foot there in andsecuring the foldable footwear 100 to a user's foot.

Referring to FIG. 3 , the foldable footwear 100 may be foldable alongthe first channel 120 and the second channel 122 such that the foldablefootwear may be easily compacted, stored, or the like. The

Referring to FIG. 4 , a foldable footwear 100 may include a sole 102made up of a first sole 104, a second sole 106, and a third sole 108.The first, second, and third soles may be partially separated from oneanother. The sole 102 may define a first channel 120 and a secondchannel 122 therein to partially separate the first, second, and thirdinsoles. The first channel 120 and second channel 122 may form hingeableor bendable portions within the sole 102 such that the foldable footwear100 is foldable for compactness and ease of storage or travel. Accordingto some embodiments, a strap 318 may take many forms and arrangementssuch as, but not limited to, a toecap, to box, upper vamp, thong, or thelike.

Referring to FIG. 5 , the foldable footwear 100 may be foldable alongthe first channel 120 and the second channel 122 such that the foldablefootwear may be easily compacted, stored, or the like. As best seen inFIG. 5 , this strap 318 may be in the form of a toe box defining arecess 502 constructed and arranged to comfortably enclose at least aportion of a user's foot including the toes.

Referring to FIG. 6 , a cross-sectional view of a foldable footwear 100is depicted and may include an insole 102 made up of a first insole 104,a second insole 106, and a third insole 108. The first, second, andthird insoles may be separated from one another. the foldable footwear100 may be foldable along a first bendable portion 160 and a secondbendable portion 170 located at the first channel 120 and the secondchannel 122, respectively, such that the foldable footwear may be easilycompacted, stored, or the like.

In some embodiments, the foldable footwear 100 may fold about in half,rather than in thirds as is shown in FIGS. 1-6 . For example, thefoldable footwear may include the first sole 110 and second sole 112,wherein the first sole 110 and second sole 112 having the mid channel140 positioned at or near the midpoint 150 of the foldable footwear 100to allow the foldable footwear to 100 to fold in half (see FIG. 1 ).

The following description of variants is only illustrative ofcomponents, elements, acts, products, and methods considered to bewithin the scope of the invention and are not in any way intended tolimit such scope by what is specifically disclosed or not expressly setforth. The components, elements, acts, products, and methods asdescribed herein may be combined and rearranged other than as expresslydescribed herein and are still considered to be within the scope of theinvention.

According to variation 1, a foldable slipper may include a first insole;a second insole; a third insole; at least one strap, toe box, or uppervamp affixed to at least one of the second insole or second insole; asole defining a first channel and a second channel to define a firstsole hingedly attached to a second sole, and a third sole hingedlyattached to the second sole, wherein the first insole is disposed on thefirst sole, the second insole is disposed on the second sole, and thirdinsole is disposed on the third sole; and wherein the foldable footwearis constructed and arranged to fold along the first channel and thesecond channel.

Many different embodiments have been disclosed herein, in connectionwith the above description and the drawings. It will be understood thatit would be unduly repetitious and obfuscating to describe andillustrate every combination and subcombination of these embodiments.Accordingly, all embodiments can be combined in any way and/orcombination, and the present specification, including the drawings,shall be construed to constitute a complete written description of allcombinations and subcombinations of the embodiments described herein,and of the manner and process of making and using them, and shallsupport claims to any such combination or subcombination.

An equivalent substitution of two or more elements can be made for anyone of the elements in the claims below or that a single element can besubstituted for two or more elements in a claim. Although elements canbe described above as acting in certain combinations and even initiallyclaimed as such, it is to be expressly understood that one or moreelements from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised fromthe combination and that the claimed combination can be directed to asubcombination or variation of a subcombination.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the presentembodiment is not limited to what has been particularly shown anddescribed hereinabove. A variety of modifications and variations arepossible in light of the above teachings without departing from thefollowing claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A foldable footwear, comprising: a first insole;a second insole; a third insole; at least one strap, toe box, or uppervamp affixed to the second insole; a sole defining a first channel and asecond channel to define a first sole hingedly attached to a secondsole, and a third sole hingedly attached to the second sole, wherein thefirst insole is disposed one the first sole, the second insole isdisposed on the second sole, and the third insole is disposed on thethird sole; and wherein the foldable footwear is constructed andarranged to fold along the first channel and the second channel.
 2. Thefoldable footwear of claim 1, further comprising at least one passage toat least partially receive a user's foot.
 3. The foldable footwear ofclaim 1, wherein the foldable footwear is configurable in in-useconfiguration.
 4. The foldable footwear of claim 3, wherein the in-useconfiguration is defined by the first sole, the second sole, and thethird sole forming a planar surface.
 5. The foldable footwear of claim1, wherein the foldable footwear is configurable in a storageconfiguration.
 6. The foldable footwear of claim 3, wherein the storageconfiguration is defined by the first sole, the second sole, and thethird sole forming a non-planar surface.
 7. The foldable footwear ofclaim 1, wherein the foldable footwear is configured to fold in thirds.8. The foldable footwear of claim 1, wherein the strap is configured asone of the following: a toecap, to box, upper vamp, or a thong.
 9. Thefoldable footwear of claim 1, wherein the storage configuration isdefined as being more compact than the in-use configuration.
 10. Afoldable footwear, comprising: a first insole; a second insole; at leastone strap, toe box, or upper vamp affixed to the second insole; a soledefining a mid-channel to define a first sole hingedly attached to asecond sole via the mid channel, wherein the first insole is disposedone the first sole, the second insole is disposed on the second sole,and the second insole is disposed on the second sole; and wherein thefoldable footwear is constructed and arranged to fold along amid-channel.
 11. The foldable footwear of claim 10, further comprisingat least one passage to at least partially receive a user's foot. 12.The foldable footwear of claim 10, wherein the foldable footwear isconfigurable in in-use configuration.
 13. The foldable footwear of claim12, wherein the in-use configuration is defined by the first sole andthe second sole forming a planar surface.
 14. The foldable footwear ofclaim 10, wherein the foldable footwear is configurable in a storageconfiguration.
 15. The foldable footwear of claim 14, wherein thestorage configuration is defined by the first sole and the second soleforming a non-planar surface.
 16. The foldable footwear of claim 10,wherein the foldable footwear is configured to fold in half.
 17. Thefoldable footwear of claim 10, wherein the strap is configured as one ofthe following: a toecap, to box, upper vamp, or a thong.
 18. Thefoldable footwear of claim 10, wherein the storage configuration isdefined as being more compact than the in-use configuration.